Tree Id- Magnolia?

fairfield8619(Zone 8 NW LA)October 6, 2013

This is in the lot next door in the understory. Big thick leaves and stems with some tomentum on the stems especially. It seems to shoot directly from the ground but it might have been cut off at some point. Oddly, my FIL had the same thing planted in his yard but he's not around anymore so sadly I can't ask him. Apparently it must be something interesting. It seems reminiscent of of a deciduous native magnolia to me but it may be the large leaves leading me to that. I just bought a M. macrophylla but it doesn't quite look the same. I'm in north la.